Insurance

For season 2017/18, all clubs will be required to purchase Personal Accident Insurance as a condition of their affiliation with us, whilst Public Liability Insurance will continue to be subsidised by Essex FA for grassroots clubs.

In 2013, The FA introduced a rule making it mandatory for adult eleven-a-side teams to have personal accident insurance in place each season. This was extended in 2017 to additionally cover youth teams. Public liability insurance is also mandatory, and all clubs should carry a limit of indemnity of no less than £10,000,000 for any one occurrence.

Bluefin Sport can provide clubs, teams, leagues and match officials with robust and competitive insurance products, specifically tailored to the needs of grassroots football. Bluefin Sport are The FA’s appointed broker to deliver the National Game Insurance Scheme (NGIS), and also our appointed broker. We urge you to consider your purchase of insurance cover through the NGIS.

Personal Accident

Cover is available for adult and youth teams which protects players, committee members, managers, trainers and assistant referees/officials in the event of an accident arising from football activities.

For adult eleven-a-side teams, personal accident insurance is required which matches the Bluefin 'Intermediate' level of cover. For season 2017/18, we have agreed to cover £20 towards the cost of Bluefin cover on behalf of all of our adult member clubs who require it.

Each youth team is also now required to purchase Personal Accident Insurance. Essex FA have set the equivalent of Bluefin’s ‘Superior Gold’ level as a minimum requirement for Personal Accident Insurance for youth teams. Any insurance which is purchased through Bluefin directly will receive half the ‘Superior Gold’ premium automatically subsidised by Essex FA.

We would recommend that you look at the range of benefits on offer as you may wish to upgrade your team's cover. Bluefin Sport’s instalment facility can help you to spread the cost of your personal accident insurance. This does not stop clubs from seeking other insurance policies, although they will not receive the subsidised rate should they do so.

Clubs can purchase cover through the National Game Insurance Scheme via www.bluefinsport.co.uk/ngis. Some of the advantages of buying cover online are:
* instant quotations, with cover starting from 1 July 2017
* pay your premium online by debit or credit card or
* pay by five monthly instalments if your premium is £100 or more (interest rate 6%, representative APR 11.5%)
* ability to download policy documentation and also delivery of policy documents by E-Mail.

Alternatively, you can apply by post by completing the application form which you will find at the back of the Group Personal Accident brochure. The completed application form should be returned to Bluefin Sport together with a cheque made payable to 'Bluefin Insurance Services.' Please note, if you make a postal application, a £5 administration fee is payable on top of the premium.

Once you have purchased cover, you will be able to download your policy documents. You should save the PDF attachment to your computer. You will also receive an E-Mail attaching your policy documents. Included within the policy documents pack is a poster which can be displayed at your club's premises so players are aware of the cover in force. When you affiliate, you will need to provide evidence of personal accident insurance for adult eleven-a-side teams, and checks will be made to ensure that you have purchased the correct cover and that the cover is in force for the whole of season 2017/18.

Legal Liabilities (including Public Liability)

The Countycover scheme is available to affiliated clubs, leagues and match officials affiliated to the Essex County FA. Cover is arranged by the association as a group policy, so premiums are more affordable.

This allows you to purchase the cover at a much cheaper premium, whilst you also benefit from the wider cover of a policy that has been designed specifically with grassroots football in mind (please note that, for 2017/18, we have agreed to cover the cost of Bluefin 'Countycover' on behalf of all of our member clubs who require it). There are four elements of cover in this one unique package.

Countycover does not cover player-to-player incidents. However, the cover does automatically include player-to-player legal defence costs only of up to £100,000 (it does not cover any award that may be given).

Important

* Please note that the Countycover products are only available to clubs and teams participating at Steps Five and below. If your club, or one of its teams, plays at Step Four and above, please contact Bluefin Sport as they can provide a separate quotation.

* Cover is not provided for the operation of a licensed premises. This element of cover is usually provided under a commercial combined insurance policy or, alternatively, Bluefin Sport can provide a separate quotation.

How do I purchase cover?

Cover is included in your 2017/18 affiliation to the Essex County FA. The system will record your purchase, and the Essex County FA will send your 'Evidence of Cover' to you once payment has been received and your application has been accepted.